So Cubs Spring Training is underway as all players besides Kosuke Fukudome have arrived in Mesa and are taking part in full day workouts. One thing from Lou Piniella is that he might move Alfonso Soriano down in the lineup. I would agree with this but only if Piniella and Soriano stick to it and he isn’t moving back to the lead off spot three weeks into the season. Soriano is open to it as of right now so I’d expect him to play a few games while hitting down in the order.

Piniella also said that Carlos Marmol and Kevin Gregg would both get the chance to close games while in Spring Training. Both pitchers will also throw earlier in the game at times as well so they will both be getting quite a bit of action as the team decides who to use in the closers role. Gregg will get quite a bit of work while Marmol is pitching in the World Baseball Classic as well.

Things will start picking up down in Arizona and here at ChicagoCubsBlog.net once the team starts playing in some games and we have roster moves to blog about. For now, we are six days away from the first game and we don’t expect any big moves or drama before then.

Chicago Cubs fans, the greatest five words have been yelled out down in Mesa, AZ this morning. “Pitchers and Catchers Report Today” Those five words are a baseball fans favorite phrase. Some players showed up a day early but all will need to be in Mesa today (Friday) and then will take part in their first full workout on Saturday.

The two big questions heading into Spring Training for the pitchers is who will be the fifth starter and is Carlos Marmol ready to take over as the closer. I’m going to blow a little bit about both of those questions today and give you my opinion. I’d welcome your opinions as well via the comments section.

First off lets talk about the 5th spot in the rotation once again. As we have blogged about before, I expect Sean Marshall to win this position during Spring Training however we cannot forget about players like Chad Gaudin, Jeff Samardzija and Aaron Heilman. I feel that Gaudin, Samardzija, and Heilman would all be better served in the bullpen rather then taking the mound every fifth day. I feel that Samardzija needs to work on his control and possibly develop another pitch to be a quality starter. Gaudin I would rather see out of the pen as he has pitched there for the Cubs in the past and I’ve just never seen him throw the ball to start a game so I’m unfamiliar with him. Heilman I would have to put an asterik by. He has started in his career and is an average starter. A lot of people would probably compare him to Jason Marquis who the Cubs traded to the Colorado Rockies in the off season. He can spot start and throw out of the pen and I’ll predict that he opens up in the pen with southpaw Sean Marshall getting the nod in the rotation.

For the closers situation, the Cubs will be looking for Carlos Marmol or newly acquired Kevin Green to fill the void left behind by Kerry Wood. As we all know, Wood signed a free agent deal with the Cleveland Indians during the off season when the Cubs wouldn’t offer him more than a one year deal. This will be Marmol’s job to lose heading into Spring Training and I see it coming right down to the end just like it did in 2008 when Wood, Marmol, and Bob Howry were competing for the job. If Marmol does struggle at all, don’t expect the Cubs to wait to long before they give Gregg the shot at closing out games. He closed the last two seasons down in Florida for the Marlins and did a pretty good job. I think Marmol will hold down the closers spot but I also expect Gregg to get his fair share of saves during the regular season when he fills in for Marmol when he needs a rest.

So how do you think things will end up with the rotation and the closers job?

Good Monday everyone! Well things are getting off to a bang this Friday morning as Cubs.com has reported that the Kansas City Royals are looking at Sean Marshall and Mike Fontenot from the Cubs. If a deal is made for either player, the Cubs would receiving Mark Teahen from the Royals.

I sure hope that Jim Hendry is not trading both Marshall and Fontenot for Teahen as that would be a very bad trade in my opinion. I think giving up Marshall for Teahen would be too much to be honest. If the Cubs were to trade for Teahen at this point, I think they would stop looking at the possibility of getting Raul Ibanez or Milton Bradley.

Hmm what are you thoughts on this Cubs rumor?

The Chicago Cubs will be opening up the new Yankee Stadium against the New York Yankees on April 3rd. The two teams will the play a second exhibition game on April 4th as well.

“The Cubs are thrilled to be the Yankees’ first opponent in the new Yankee Stadium and are honored to take part in this historic event,” said Cubs chairman Crane Kenney.

I don’t mind playing these games but I really doubt we see the regulars playing a full game in the short two game series. It is just to close to the regular season that you don’t want to risk having someone like Derrek Lee or Aramis Ramirez get hurt in an exhibition game.

Once information about tickets is released, we will let you know. More then likely you will have to order through the yankees or ticketmaster.